Professor Patricia Kearney:

I hear Deputy Nolan's frustration and understand the severely negative impacts of the lockdowns. Part of the Covid-zero approach and our call for a very clear elimination strategy is based on our clear will to try to avoid lockdowns. I absolutely agree that we need to be very proactive here. With making a decision to just live with the virus, as seems to be the case at present, the problem is that we are then exposing ourselves to these events where we will see these increases in cases and will take a reactionary approach to those. We are saying that we need to consider the implications this Covid-zero strategy.

As has been discussed, we need to build the trust with the population and think about the hard decisions that will need to be made and implemented. By implementing those and working together we can get to a point of these green zones where we can start to live normal lives. I absolutely agree that it makes no sense to think of health and wealth as being in opposition. We know that the economy is just a reflection of society and health. All those things go together.